Ukrainian parasports athletes have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Italy, despite the recent decision by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to grant special invitations to athletes from Russia and Belarus. This announcement was made by Valery Suskevich, the president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, emphasizing that boycotting the games would imply a victory for Putin over Ukrainian parasports and Ukraine itself. Suskevich cited various slots allocated to Russian and Belarusian athletes in skiing disciplines, which has raised concerns among the Ukrainian sports community.

The decision taken on February 16 to allow athletes from these countries to compete has significant implications for the integrity of international sports events, reflecting a growing tension in how sports are to be managed in times of geopolitical conflict. The Ukrainian leadership in sports feels that their presence in the Games would counteract the aggressors’ attempts to undermine Ukrainian pride and representation on the international stage. It stresses the importance of competing to showcase resilience rather than retreating in the face of adversity.

Moreover, the IPC clarified its stance on the matter, asserting that athletes from aggressor nations would be treated the same as athletes from all other countries, which limits the potential for a more nuanced approach to these geopolitical tensions in sports. This position may provoke further reactions from the Ukrainian sports community and other nations regarding the moral responsibilities of sports organizations in the context of international conflicts, making an exploration of these questions vital as the Games approach.